USA > Tennessee > Johnson County > History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A. > Part 10
USA > Tennessee > Carter County > History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A. > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
1 24
HISTORY OF THE 13TH REGIMENT
CHAPTER XIV.
At Camp Nelson .- Major Doughty's Detachment Joins the Regiment .- Cold New Year's Day .- Oliver Mcclellan and Others Frozen to Death .- Rigiment Clothed .- Mounted, Fully Equipped and Paid Off .- Improved Appearance of Offi- cers and Men .- Death of Capt. Luttrell .- Ordered to Nash- ville .- Fight Guerrillas Through Kentucky .- Arrival at Nash- ville.
Soon after our arrival at Camp Nelson, Captain George W. Doughty, Henry M. Walker and James N. Freels ar- rived at that place with about 150 men that had been re- cruited for the 17th Tennessee Cavalry by Col. James A. Doughty, who had been authorized to recruit a regiment of cavalry, but did not succeed in enlisting a sufficient number of men. Captain George W. Doughty, Henry M. Walker and James N. Freels ( the two latter not yet com- missioned) with their men, had rendered valuable service in securing forage for Gen. Burnside's army and floating it down the river to Knoxville for its relief.
The Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry did not yet have the requisite number of men to complete its organization. Negotiations were entered into by which this detachment was attached to the Thirteenth, giving Captain Doughty the position of Major of the First Battalion, H. M. Walker Ist Lieutenant of Company K, and James N. Freels 2d Lieutenant of Company H.
The Regiment being entitled to whatever credit is due this detachment for services rendered, we insert here an account of this service for which Captain Doughty re- ceived complimentary notice from General Burnside.
George W. Doughty is a native of East Tennessee, but resided several years in Gordon county, Georgia, prior to 1861, and was living there at the beginning of the Civil War. He had the distinction of being the only man from his adopted county in the Federal army.
125
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.
Between July and September, 1863, he recruited a company of about sixty men for the 17th Tennessee Cav- alry, U. S. A., at Glasgow, Kentucky. He took his re- cruits to Nicholasville, Kentucky, when, after much diffi- culty and expense of a trip to Cincinnati, he succeeded in getting mustered as Lieutenant.
By skillful management he finally obtained arms and equipments and secured horses to mount his company. He at once started for Knoxville, Tennessee, by way of Cumberland Gap. On the way he recruited enough men to complete his company, and at Knoxville was com- missioned Captain by Governor Johnson and mustered into service with that rank.
Many of his men had been conscripted into the Con- federate service, and were surrendered at the time the Confederate forces surrendered to General George W. Morgan at Cumberland Gap. These men, who proved to be good soldiers to the end of the war, were at first not disposed to enlist in the Federal army, fearing if they should be captured they would be shot as deserters, as had been done with others in like condition, who had been cap- tured a short time before at Rogersville, Tennessee, and marched out and shot down without trial. Captain Doughty made them a solemn promise that under no cir- cumstance would he ever surrender them, and this promise was faithfully kept, as the records of the regi- ment will show. It was generally understood that men sent out under Doughty would return if not killed, as his motto was, "never surrender."
Captain Doughty with his full company of well- mounted men reported in person to General Burnside, just before the siege of Knoxville. With the assistance of Lieutenants Henry M. Walker and James N. Freels, he continued to recruit men for the 17th Cavalry until Gen- eral Bunrside had ordered him to send a commissioned officer with a strong detachment of men to guard the United States mails from Knoxville to Cumberland Gap. Lieutenant Walker was detailed for this service, with the greater part of the best equipped men of the company,
126
HISTORY OF THE 13TH REGIMENT
leaving only a few, except new recruits, with Captain Doughty. With this small force he was ordered by Gen- eral Burnsides to go up the country, reconnoiter both sides of the Holston river and ascertain and report any movements of the enemy in that direction, as it was ex- pected that a small part of Longstreet's command would cross the Holston and French Broad rivers and come down on the south side of Knoxville, while the main body would cross below the town and leave only a small force to make a feint on the north side of the city.
Some Michigan troops with about forty flat boats were engaged in trying to find supplies along the Holston and French Broad rivers with which to feed the army at Knoxville, but hearing of the advance of the enemy towards that place, they at once abandoned their boats and returned to Knoxville without orders. At this time Captain Doughty was informed that Knoxville was com- pletely invested by Longstreet, that Burnside's army was on one-fourth rations and only enough to last a very few days, and if his supplies were not replenished that he would be compelled to surrender.
Captain Doughty was well-acquainted with the coun- try and many of the people in Knox, Jefferson and Se- vier Counties, and as he was averse to the surrender idea, at once sent couriers in all directions calling on the loyal people of these counties to send in, without delay, all the subsistence for either man or beast that could be found, to be loaded on boats abandoned by the Michigan troops, and he would send it down the river to feed Burnside's starving army. Captain Doughty with his handful of re- cruits and such old men as he could press into the service, at the same time guarding both sides of the river from expected attack of the enemy, loaded these boats with flour, bacon, hogs, cattle and all kinds of produce. He dropped the boats down the river to within a few miles of the enemy's picket line, and waiting until just before day, with one steersman to each boat, under cover of darkness and fog floated them silently in the middle of the river, and landed the boats safely at the pontoon
I27
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.
bridge within the Union lines. It was the supplies ob- tained in this way that saved Burnside's army from star- vation or final capitulation. Captain Doughty through his daring and energy and the loyal farmers of this re- gion should have full credit for averting this catastrophe to the Union cause.
In calling on the farmers to send in everything they could spare, Captain Doughty pledged his honor that every dollar's worth of provisions loaded on the boats should be paid for whether it reached Knoxville or not, or whether the parties furnishing it were loyal or disloyal. This promise was sacredly kept, and the farmers received their pay. The great mystery was where all these sup- plies could come from, after the country was supposed to have been stripped of everything by the two armies. It appeared to come down from the heavens like the show- ers of manna in the wilderness.
Captain Rule in his History of Knox County, and ( in- cidentally the siege of Knoxville), says: "As was well known the object of General Longstreet was to starve the Union forces into a surrender, in which he certainly would have succeeded had he been able to cut off all sup- plies from reaching the Fort, but large quantities of pro- visions were contantly sent down the Holston river from the vicinity of the French Broad and Holston, under cover of the darkness and fog. At the close of the siege there was within the fortifications a sufficient supply to last many weeks longer. These supplies were contributed by the loyal citizens in the immediate sections of the country whose loyalty to the United States Government never abated, and whose faithfulness saved the city and caused its final abandonment by the Confederate forces. All these provisions were secured and sent down the river by Captain G. W. Doughty and his men who remained on the river during the siege."
Speaking of the valuable services rendered by Captain Doughty, General Burnsides in his report of the siege of Knoxville says: "When the siege was raised we had five times as many rations as when it commenced, and
I28
HISTORY OF THE 13TH REGIMENT
could have held out at least a month longer !" He gives- great praise to Captain Doughty and his little band of brave men for the part they took in this desperate struggle.
For ten days and nights the Captain and his men were in the saddle almost without intermission. As a matter of fact more praise is due these men than they ever re- ceived, for the indomitable courage and energy they dis- played can only be equalled but never surpassed.
The suggestion of a possible surrender continued to come from all directions, and as before stated, Captain Doughty had made a solemn promise to these men that they should never be surrendered to be shot, as they verily believed "without Judge or Jury." He then sent a dispatch to each captain of the one hundred days men, of whom there were several in Knox and adjoining coun- ties, notifying them of the situation, and his determina- tion to make his way through to Cumberland Gap in the event of Burnside's surrender, promising to take them all through to that place. In less than twenty-four hours about 400 armed men had reported to the Captain at Bowman's Ferry, twelve miles above Knoxville. In the meantime he had communicated with Col. John K. Mil- ler at Strawberry Plains, who was recruiting a regiment at that place, giving him his plans, which were approved and accepted by Colonel Miller, with the assurance that he would willingly co-operate with him. Just before the final attack on Fort Saunders, the Confederates con- ceived the idea of destroying the pontoon bridge. which was the only communication between the Union forces on the opposite side of the Holston river. Several hun- dred men were put to work on the North side of the river above Bowman's ferry to prepare a large loose raft of logs, which was designed to carry away the pontoon bridge and prevent communication between the Federal forces on opposite sides of the river, or reinforcements being sent from one side to the other. Captain Doughty from the south side of the river immediately took in the situation and divining their intention sent a courier with
-
CAPT. W. M. GOURLEY. (See page 222.)
CAPT. L. W. FLETCHER. (See page 282.)
CAPT. DANIEL ELLIS. (See Chapter XXIX.)
129
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.
a dispatch to Captain Poe, who had charge of the bridge, and suggested the idea of throwing a boom just above the bridge to protect it from the raft. Captain Poe acted upon this suggestion and it saved the bridge. Captain Doughty watched the soldiers work "like beavers" but he knew a great many of the logs would sink, as he saw they were green beech, oak and sycamore and thought the men must be from a country where it was all pine woods or they knew very little about rafting logs.
General Sherman, who had been sent from Chatta- nooga to assist General Burnsides, was coming up in Longstreet's rear, which caused the Confederates to "fold their tents and silently steal away."
In the latter part of December, 1863, Governor John- son issued an order for all the unorganized Tennessee recruits then in Tennessee to proceed at once to Camp Nelson, Kentucky, where they would be consolidated into regiments. Captain Doughty and his men (then a part of two companies) reached Camp Nelson on the last day of December, 1863. After some delay Captain Doughty and his detachment was consolidated with what was then the 13th Tennessee Cavalry under command of Colonel John K. Miller. In this consolidation what was known as Company A of the 17th became Company K of the 13th, under Captain John G. Dervan, and Henry M. Walker, First Lieutenant. The company known as Com- pany B of the 17th was consolidated with Company H of the 13th, under Captain Landon Carter, with James N. Freels as Ist Lieutenant. From this time forward the history of this detachment is identical with the history of the 13th Tennessee Cavalry.
In consideration of the valuable services previously rendered by Captain Doughty and the number of men brought to the Regiment by him, he was by unanimous consent promoted to Major of the Ist Battalion of the 13th Tennessee Cavalry, and being the ranking Major although among the youngest men of his rank in our command, he was by virtue of his rank frequently in command of the Regiment and gained the good will and confidence of both officers and men.
130
HISTORY OF THE 13TH REGIMENT
The Regiment left Camp Nelson, Ky., on the 25th of January, 1864, with orders to disperse some guerrilla bands that had been committing depradations in some parts of Kentucky and Tennessee, its final destination being Nashville, Tenn.
Those of the Regiment who were unable for duty were sent by rail to Nashville, via Lexington and Louis- ville, Ky., in charge of Major J. W. M. Grayson and Lieutenant S. W. Scott.
Captain R. H. Luttrell, one of our most popular and highly respected officers, died of pneumonia at Camp Nelson, January 20, 1863. Further notice of this officer will be found in the Sketches of Officers.
The Regiment now presented a soldierly appearance and gave better promise of future usefulness.
This, our second march, though in mid-winter, Jan- uary and February being considered, usually the most in- clement season of the year, was a pleasure-trip in com- parison with our march from Strawberry Plains, Tenn., to Camp Nelson, Ky.
We were now well-clothed, mounted, had good blank- ets and received our marching orders gladly as our faces were turned back toward dear old Tennessee.
We broke camp on the morning of January 25. 1864; and at the sound of the bugle moved out in the direction of Danville, Ky., passing Camp Dick Robinson, of which we had heard so much, we reached Danville that evening.
We cannot refrain from drawing a contrast with the Regiment as it now appeared and the forlorn aggrega- tion that reached Camp Nelson in December. Think of a lot of men straggling along the highway, illy clad, covered with mud, weary with marching and gaunt for want of food-with woe-begone countenances and no sound of laughter or cheer, and you have a picture of the embryo Regiment on its march to Camp Nelson. But now it was different; the men were all in new blue uni- forms with glittering sabres and shining carbines, with rosy cheeks and smiling faces and merry with songs and laughter.
I31
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.
Our readers will pardon us for observing that these men being largely tall, young and well built mountaineers, now presented a fine appearance and inspired their offi- cers with confidence that with a little training and ex- perience they would be able to cope with any equal num- ber of men they might meet, even were they the boasted chivalry of the South.
Passing through Danville on the 26th we camped near that town and on the 27th reached the beautiful and far- famed "Blue Grass" country of Kentucky and camped on ground where Gen. John H. Morgan's command had formally camped when raiding through Kentucky. We did not think then we would again cross the path of this noted Chieftain with such tragic result to him. Passing through Lebanon, and near Campbellsville, and Colum- bia, we moved on without special incidents until January 3Ist, when we reached the country infested by guerrillas and were expecting to be fired on. We traveled all day in the rain and reached Burksville, Ky., on the Cumber- land river, and remained in camp there February Ist, awaiting the wagon train. February 2d we were ordered to move early but the order was countermanded. The weather was very cold. The wagon train came up in the evening.
We moved out to the river February 3d and com- menced crossing in a small ferry boat only sufficient to carry 8 or 10 animals at a time. We worked all day this way, not succeeding in getting all the stock across the river. On the morning of the 4th a large steam ferry boat came down the river, followed by several small steamers loaded with forage and protected by gun boats. These were enroute for Nashville.
The steam ferry boat took the remainder of our stock, and the entire Regiment, stock and wagons and all were across the river in a few hours.
On the 5th we marched only a few miles and camped on the summit of a rough ridge.
On the 6th we moved out early ; the weather was bad and roads exceedingly rough. A detachment of 150 men
I32
HISTORY OF THE 13TH REGIMENT
was sent out and had a skirmish with guerrillas and found and destroyed a still-house.
On February 7th the Regiment left camp at 3 A. M .; it was fearfully dark that morning and we made poor speed-the scout joined us near the State-line where we went into camp.
On the 8th of February another scout was sent out, and skirmished with guerrillas and burnt another place where they manufacture "Kentucky Bourbon."
On February 10th we moved out early, with Co. G in advance. We sent out a scouting party again to look for guerrillas. The Regiment halted about 3 P. M. and sent out Joseph McCloud and William A. Goodwin as advance guard; McCloud went into a house, some distance from the picket post, to get something to eat, and a guerrilla dashed up, got the drop on him, made him prisoner and started with him to the hills. Learning of this, Captain Wilcox, Sergeants S. P. Angel, John M. Wilcox and Corporal John G. Shell started after them in hot pursuit. After an exciting chase the guerrilla was captured and McCloud re-captured, or released. The little black mare captured from this guerrilla was kept in the Regiment and rode by John C. Scott, a Carter county Union man, while on a visit to the Regiment in the following sum- mer. Six other guerrillas were captured on this day, including the notorious Capt Dorrity, who had com- mitted many depradations. There were no further in- cidents of note.
The Regiment passed through Kirkville, Putnam coun- ty, Tennessee, Carthage, Smith county, Tenn., and cross- ed the Cumberland river at the latter place in steam- boats on February 13th, passing on through the beauti- ful country in Middle Tennessee, we reached Hartsville on the 16th, Gallatin on the same day and Nashville on the 18th of February.
.
I33
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.
CHAPTER XV.
At Camp Gillem-Camp and Guard Duty .- Religious Ser- vice .- Drill and Discipline -- East Tennessee Refugees .- Dan Ellis in Camp .- Gov. Brownlow and Gen. S. P. Carter Visit the Regiment .- Small-pox and Measles .- Many Deaths in the Regiment .- Move to Camp Catlett .- Brigade Organized.
Arriving at Nashville about 10 A. M. February 18 the Regiment marched through the city to Camp Gillem, lo- cated about one mile northwest of the city. The camp was named in honor of Gen. A. C. Gillem, who was to be closely identified with our Brigade during the continu- ance of the war. It was a very pretty location for a camp, and the officers and men went to work in good earnest to establish themselves in their new quarters. We found the detachment sent around under Major Grayson await- ing us here.
On the 19th forty recruits came in from Johnson and Carter counties, bringing news from home and creating quite a stir in the Regiment. Many were old acquaint- ances and nearly all were known to some one of the Regi- ment. They brought sad tidings of suffering in these two counties, which was not conducive to our happiness, but we trusted some way would be provided for our friends until we could go to their relief which we hoped to do as soon as winter broke.
For the next few days all were busily engaged putting up our big "Bell" tents, regular old "smokers" that brought more tears to our eyes than all our other tribu- lations. Some of the men were put to work draining and policing the camp, while others were sent off on scouting expeditions. Many of the boys who had never been in a city began to want to see the sights, visit the theatre and have a good time generally. To prevent too much run- ning to town, as well as to enforce discipline and teach
I 34
HISTORY OF THE 13TH REGIMENT
the men they were now soldiers, subject to the orders of their officers, a strict camp-guard was established and none were permitted to go in or out without a written pass in the day and the countersign at night, but they often managed to elude the vigilance of the guards.
On the 23d of February R. A. Lyle, whom we have mentioned as having been Deputy Provost Marshal at Elizabethton, and had come through the lines nearly a year before with Dan. Ellis, visited our camps. He was now in Secretary of State East's office. All were glad to see him as he had done many of us favors when pos- ing as a rebel provost marshal. Mr. Lyle visited our camps a number of times while we were at Nashville. At this time a great many refugees were coming into Nashville from all the counties of East Tennessee. Long- street's army had been quartered on that unhappy sec- tion all winter and rebel soldiers were stationed in al- most every village, draining the country of its scanty sup- plies, so that thousands had to leave the country,-men, women and childen. These made their way to Nashville, and even to the Northern border States of Ohio and In- diana, where they were generally charitably received by the sympathetic people of the North who had read and heard much of their sufferings. Many good families moved to the Western States and remained until after the war; some never returned. But for the philanthropic people of the North, the condition of East Tennessee, de- plorable as it was now, and as it continued to be to the end of the war, would have been far worse, resulting in a large number falling victims to actual starvation.
Among the Union men who came to Nashville from Carter and Johnson counties and Western North Caro- lina, and who were unable to remain at their homes at that time, and could not for various reasons join the army, were: John M. Smith, Hamilton C. Smith, Rich- ard L. Wilson (then a citizen), L. W. Fletcher, Charles P. Toncray, Nat. T. Williams, Rev. Mr. Van, ( a North Carolina Union man), Rev. Bovell, McCall, John W. Cameron, Dr. A. Jobe, S. A. Cunningham, Hon. N. G. Taylor and many others.
I35
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.
These men were all received with much pleasure and respect on their visits to the Regiment. A number of our officers and men often took meals at the boarding house of Mrs. Fulgium, a very kind lady, who kept boarders at Number 31, Summer street. This place became the headquarters for the Johnson and Carter county refugees where we spent many pleasant hours with them talking about our friends at home.
On the 25th of February John M. Smith, of Carter county, brought Andrew Campbell into our Regiment where he was enlisted in Co. G, Captain C. C. Wilcox's company. Campbell made a fine soldier and was after- wards promoted to Sergeant for gallantry, and later to Ist Lieutenant of Co. E for killing Gen. John H. Morgan at Greenville, Tennessee.
On the 26th we received news of the death of Corporal William T. White of Co. G, who had taken sick on the road during the march from Camp Nelson, but was brought to Nashville and put in the hospital. Corporal White belonged to a good Carter county family, was a brave, intelligent young man, and would have been one of our best soldiers had he lived.
On Sunday, February 28th, the first religious service was held in the camp of the Regiment. Rev. J. B. Van preached a good sermon and the men gave him good at- tention. He was a refugee from North Carolina, and a splendid man. It was sad to one of a religious turn of mind to note, as a rule, how little the soldiers seemed to think of the great "Hereafter" when their chances were so many to be called before the "Judgment Bar" by sickness, accident or death upon the battlefield.
March the Ist we were engaged in making out pay- rolls, and on the 2d Hon. W. G. Brownlow and Gen. Samuel P. Carter visited our camps. The Regiment gave them a rousing reception. We felt honored by a visit from these two distinguished East Tennesseeans. They seemed much pleased with the appearance of the Regi- ment and complimented the officers and men upon their fine appearance and soldierly bearing.
I36
HISTORY OF THE 13TH REGIMENT.
On the 3d the Regiment was paid for two months' ser- vice, and money was plentiful. It was to be regretted that many of the men parted with their money so fool- ishly, spending it with prodigality for needless and use- less things. Fakirs, gamblers and swindlers of all kind, swarmed about the vicinity of the camp, selling all kinds of trash, pistols, watches and worthless jewelry that the men had little use for. Some, however, took care of their money and sent it back to their suffering families in East Tennessee where it was so greatly needed.
On Sunday, March 13th, we had our first inspection in this camp in the forenoon, and dress parade in the afternoon; this was kept up regularly thereafter as long as we remained in camp.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.